New Head

[PrairieSchnooer]

It's time to replace the head on my 78 h27. There was an old self contained Sealand Traveller type head when I bought the boat that leaked so I replaced it with a Porta Potti that lasted a couple of years. There is no holding tank on the boat and I can't see a good place to put a rigid tank. I'm looking at the Sealand Traveller unit and the Thetford Curve that I just found. Besides the size difference are their any opinions or ideas you have for which one to use. Most sailing is day sails with some 4-6 day sails thrown in. Thanks for your help.

 

[caguy]

The curve looks nice but does it come with MSD?.

 

[PrairieSchnooer]

I just saw it online and don't even know what MSD means.

 

[kloudie1]

MSD = Marine Sanitation Device.. required by Coast Guard in US.. I suspect similar laws in Canada
The Traveler requires a holding tank so unless ya install one somewhere (or use the tank that is there under it now) , that's out.. The Curve is self contained.. a fancy porta pottie, basically. Parts for rebuild are generally available.. so you could rebuild the existing SeaLand ..

 

[PrairieSchnooer]

Got it. As far the rules go I think it's the same in Canada. The tank on my old one was rotten and the base was cracked so it went to the dump. My wife says a Porta Potti is out so I guess the Sealand it is.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Pumpable Porta-potty?

We have a Porta-potty with a pump out hose to the deck above. Advantages are:

- Little to no odor using Odorlos to keep it oxygenated.
- We pump out the same way as with a holding tank.
- Because flush water is unnecessary, we can go 3-4 days without a pump-out.
- This is a very simple system! Easy to winterize, and to maintain, unlike a complicated holding tank system.

Either way, you have a great cruising boat. We have cruised a week with four adults aboard, and the Admiral and I have done a number of three week cruises on her.

 

[PrairieSchnooer]

Thanks for the advice David. We had a Porta Potti for the past 2 years but it developed a crack in the holding tank so it had to go. We really liked the old Sealand that came with the boat so I think I'll go with a new one.

I have some work to do this spring, putting on the furler, complete rewire and new plumbing to start with. For the future I hope to lead the lines aft and put on a bimini. I see you put one on. Do you have end boom sheething and if you do, how did you rig that with the bimini?

We love the boat. It's solid when the wind pipes up as it does here and not a slow as so many warned me about.

 

[LuzSD]

just curious, what's the reason for sharing a full toilet with us? could not pump out ?? Thanks for sharing

 

[PrairieSchnooer]

LuzSD, that was a surprise. I pumped the head and put the boat up on the trailer for the winter. When I returned from lunch the bowl was full and I couldn't figure it out, until I realized that the trailer hitch was just high enough that water was siphoning out of the water tank into the toilet. Always learn something when I go to the boat, even when it's pulled out for the winter.

 

[caguy]

Dave, what kind of porta-a-potty doesn't require flush water?

I have the Thetland 465 with the MSD pumpouit. It looks like you have the pumpout line already set up. Plumbing it is easy and we have been on the hook with it for 4 days an not even close to full. Pumping it out is really convenient at our landing. If you don't have a holding tank you are going to need something that is self contained.
http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PRODUCTS/PortableToilets/PortaPotti465MSD/tabid/161/Default.aspx